New Albany Bulldogs Romeo Langford (1) defends Warren Central Warriors David Bell (22) in the first half of their IHSAA Boys 4A Semi-State basketball game at the Lloyd E.Scott Gym in Seymour IN., on Saturday, March 16, 2018.
Matt Kryger/IndyStar

Mar 28, 2018; Atlanta, GA, USA; McDonalds High School All American East forward Romeo Langford (22) dunks during the McDonalds High School All American Game at Philips Arena.
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Mar 28, 2018; Atlanta, GA, USA; McDonalds High School All American East forward Romeo Langford (22) takes a shot during the McDonalds High School All American Game at Philips Arena.
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

New Albany High School senior Romeo Langford (1) puts up a shot during the first half a varsity basketball game at Southport High School, Saturday, December 9, 2017. Southport hosted the Tip-Off Classic tournament through the weekend.
Doug McSchooler/for IndyStar

Romeo Langford poses for a photo and signs autographs prior to New Albany?s game in Bloomington on Saturday.
Dakota Crawford/IndyStar
Romeo Langford poses for a photo and signs autographs prior to New Albany's game in Bloomington on Saturday.
Dakota Crawford / IndyStar

The New Albany Bulldogs celebrates winning the IHSAA 4A Boys Basketball State Final game Saturday, Mar 26, 2016, evening at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The New Albany Bulldogs defeated the McCutcheon Mavericks 62-59.
Matt Kryger/IndyStar

New Albany Bulldogs Romeo Langford (1) is almost triple-teamed but still drives to the backer in the second half of the IHSAA 4A Boys Basketball State Final game Saturday, Mar 26, 2016, evening at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The New Albany Bulldogs defeated the McCutcheon Mavericks 62-59.
Matt Kryger/IndyStar

IndyStar Mr. Basketball presented by the Indiana Pacers, Romeo Langford, of New Albany, poses for a photo during the IndyStar Sports Awards at Butler's Clowes Memorial Hall on Sunday, April 29, 2018.
Michelle Pemberton/IndyStar

Romeo Langford, of New Albany High School, accepts the IndyStar Mr. Basketball award at the Indiana High School Sports Awards at Butler's Clowes Memorial Hall on Sunday, April 29, 2018.(Photo: Jenna Watson/IndyStar)

“People see Romeo as a way to get back to the glory days of Indiana basketball – and I mean Indiana as a state,” said Daniel McQuiston, associate professor of sports marketing at Butler University, who was at that Bible study Monday night. “Basketball is a religion in Indiana.”

There are other schools in Indiana. Purdue. Butler. Notre Dame. But the one most intertwined with the history and legend of basketball is Indiana University.

“Let’s be honest. It’s a basketball state. Indiana people want Indiana (University) to be good,” said Dan Dakich, a former IU player and assistant coach for Bob Knight and host of an afternoon sports radio show on WFNI 1070 The Fan. “I’ve never seen more disinterest in Indiana basketball statewide than the last couple of years. This brings it back. It’s good for everybody.”

***

Peter O’Malley was in the kitchen of his Noblesville home washing the dishes Monday night. His wife, Liz, was scrolling through Facebook in the living room.

“She said, ‘What is this big fuss about some Romeo going to IU?’” said O’Malley, the seventh grade boys basketball coach at Mt. Vernon Middle School. “I ran into the living room to make sure I heard correctly and had to see myself. And sure enough, it was true.”

Historically, great Indiana high school basketball players always went to Indiana colleges. But not of late.

Before social media and the internet, the world was much bigger. Kids in Indiana knew Bob Knight. They knew Gene Keady. It was an honor to get the chance to be the hero of those much-revered programs that everyone in the state talked about.

“I always thought the kid should stay in the state. I was a Kansas kid who stayed in Kansas,” he said. “Anyone that stays in state, it’s a loyalty thing.”

Same goes for Romeo, Keady said. Though, as a Purdue faithful, he wasn’t necessarily all that revved up about his pick.

“Romeo is going to IU,” he said when he picked up the phone. “Why are you calling me?”

For Keady, his first Romeo was Troy Lewis, who played at Anderson High School and then came to Purdue in 1984, leading the team to consecutive Big Ten championships and a spot in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.

His other Romeo was Glenn Robinson, a standout at Roosevelt High School in Gary, Ind., who played at Purdue for two seasons, made an NCAA Elite Eight appearance and then was the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft in 1994.

But usually, Romeos went to IU. Back in the day, there wasn’t really much of a question. Tom and Dick Van Arsdale left a stellar career at Manual High School and went to IU. No one ever doubted where Steve Alford or Damon Bailey would go to college. IU was where the magic happened.

But it’s been seven years since the last big Indiana high school recruit, Cody Zeller, opted to play for the Hoosiers.

People were hoping Park Tudor’s Trevon Bluiett might go to IU. He didn’t. He went to Xavier in 2014. Fishers’ Gary Harris chose Michigan State in 2012.

CLOSE

New Albany's Romeo Langford is a highly-touted recruit being pursued by IU and others.
Dakota Crawford

“It’s great for the state, for Indiana Mr. basketball to stay at home,” said Jason Gardner, coach of IUPUI men’s basketball. “It’s good anytime a kid with his caliber and prestige stays in state. It helps more guys stay in state.”

Gardner, the 1999 Indiana Mr. Basketball and North Central grad, went to Arizona to play. He knows the pressure Romeo felt. He knows what it takes to recruit a player of Romeo’s caliber.

“Archie (Miller) did an unbelievable job of getting the job done,” he said.

***

Nate Muterspaugh was at a movie theater watching the 6 p.m. showing of “Avengers: Infinity War” with his family Monday.

But he was sidetracked by another superhero: Romeo. Muterspaugh has been a monstrous IU fan since the team’s 1987 championship win — when Keith Smart made two last-minute shots against Syracuse to snag the NCAA title.

So, at the movie, Muterspaugh kept his phone on — checking Twitter and texting his IU friends to get the scoop on Romeo’s college decision.

When Muterspaugh heard it was IU, he was elated.

“I was heavily interested in his commitment because, quite frankly, as an IU fan the thing that I longed for last year was consistent shooting,” he said. “With a new regimen having to work in a new system, they did progress but losing three vital players the year before is never easy for a new coaching staff.”

Romeo adds intrigue to the roster, the possibility of a glimpse of the “old IU,” Muterspaugh said.

Ryan McClintock couldn’t agree more.

“Romeo is explosive, tough and seems to have a passion for the game,” said McClintock, who played basketball at Herron High School and coaches an 8th grade AAU team at Best Choice Fieldhouse in Fishers. “He also averages double figures. IU, to me, hadn't made a lot of noise since Victor Oladipo.”

And, so, while Romeo has captured a state’s love, he is obviously a crucial piece to an upgraded Hoosiers team. IU finished its 2017-18 season 16-15. It didn’t make it to the NCAA tournament or the NIT.

“No. 1, Romeo makes you a better team,” said Dakich. “No. 2, it makes it cool for kids from all over the place to say, ‘Wait a second. This kid went to Indiana.’”

Even if Romeo stays only a year, then heads to the NBA, he is paving a path for future high-ranking recruits to see the magic in IU basketball, Dakich said.

For coach Archie Miller, getting Romeo is a coup.

“Every coach has a kid. For Bob Knight, Quinn Buckner came to Indiana and that made it OK for others,” Dakich said. “For (Kelvin) Sampson, it was Eric Gordon. For Tom Crean, it was Cody Zeller.”

Romeo gives the program not only his own skills but a boost of momentum.

“This puts in a real surge where people don’t even care about losses last year,” Dakich said. “It’s all about moving forward.”

***

Back in southern Indiana, with New Albany in Romeo’s rearview mirror, the Romeo effect hasn’t stopped.

“People love to talk about Romeo,” said Matt Denison, assistant coach at New Albany and host of The Hoosier Report on 1450 WXVW/96.1, which covers Southern Indiana basketball. “It’s all people want to hear about is his legend.”